So I would like to thank for Mr. T. Sato who permit to post
this abridged translation in this page. He is the largest publisher
of cactus and succulent books in Japan. If you would like to purchase
this book or other related plant photo books from Japan, you should
visit Mr.
Sato's web site where you will find some nice photo
books.

Amended on May 20th 2000.

Astrophytum Hand Book by Mr.
T. Sato
published in March 25th 1973

<<Vol 1 Asterias family>>

page 1 preface by T. Sato
page 2 An essay "Living with Superior plant" by Hiroshi
Hirao
page 4 The roots of A. asterias
A. asterias was imported to Kobe Japan in 1928. and etc....
page 6 Mirakuru Kabuto by T. Sato
This plant is a mutation of native collected from habitat.
They say Mirakuru is similar to Super Kabuto, However you can
find some differences, If you view both plants at one time.
A white dot of Super Kabuto raise up, but Mirakuru's
white dot is flatly like as Japanese paper. There is various posterity
as
Super Kabuto, but the size is up to 8cm originally. The original
plant went rot
for a short life span originate in such small size.
Mirakuru grow up 19 centimeter or more, and start senility now.
The shape has a tendency to become star shaped and white dot increase
Its size at the apex part.
I named this plant "MIRAKURUS" as horticultural name,
means
miracle of A. asterias.
-snip-
page 7 upper When time of most beautiful period.
middle right An another A. asterias has some Mirakuru-dots
middle left A close up for white dots
lower right It start senility, because Buds appears between ribs
lower left It becomes big size.

page 8 An essay about Mirakuru Kabuto by Masaomi Takeo
I had a contemplation to this plant, which was imported by myself
in 1980
and felt strong impression to see this plant. I sold whole plants
in the greenhouse inside, when am taking care and grow the plant.
I kept his action at the business. He paied VERY carefully to
carry out this Kabuto
in his way home. He had been admiring this Miracle Kabuto during
whole his
New Years Holiday.
I attempted to crossing with another A. asterias but I could not
make same as Mirakuru. And then I sold all plants in my greenhouse
to Mr. Sato at last, so I never sold any Mirakuru to somebody.
However I sure sold seedlings of Super Kabuto after above episode.
These seedling were given to persons who had a favor to me. And
then
These Super Kabuto seedlings were misunderstood for Mirakuru Kabuto.
(Yowichirow: It seemed an unlikely misinterpretation)
This name, Mirakuru Kabuto, is good common name and I am pleased
It. On the other hand I much regret to hear such F2 or F3 of
Mirakuru Kabuto, which was sold by nurseryman (or grower?).
-snip-

<<Vol. 2 myriostigma family>>

My comments must write in []
page 1 preface by T. Sato
page 2 The roots of A. myriostigma
A. myriostigma was imported to Japan in 1868. and etc....
page 3 Classification for A. myriostigma group by T. Sato
page 4 Common A. myriostigma in Japan.
page 5 left : A. myriostigma which is collected in Tamaulipas
Mexico.
right: A. myriostigma which is collected in Potosi Mexico.
page 6 A. myriostigma f. multicoststum [???]
This form similar to A. myriostigma ssp. tulense.
All plants of this pages was field collected plants in same
colony.
page 7-11
A. myriostigma var. strongygonum
page 12-13
A. myriostigma f. quadricostatum ???
page 14-15
A. myriostigma cv. "nudum"
This form is common species, and has much difference face.
page 16
A. myrio. f. glabrum
This form loses popularity in Japan.
page 17
A. myrio. var. tulense
page 18
A. myrio. f. columnare
[I consider this form to be A. myrio. var. tulense]
page 19
A. myrio. cv. "nudum" four rib type
[This form called "Hekiho-gyoku" in Japan]
page 20
An essay by T. Sato Title: "Some problem of A. myriostigma
family"
Most of old A. myriostigma are not pure-blooded in Japan, They
has
other bloods strongygonum, nudum, tulense, columnare and etc.
While famous cactophiles made Hekihou-gyoku, Sankaku-ranpo, Onzuka
and also beauty variegated. I hope these beauty plants is accepted
by
foreign people.
I regret that most of famous types are not pureblooded, therefore
their body shift to small in average size.
page 21
Two ribs form!
This capricious form reduces own rib but increase in sometimes.
page 22-24
Three ribs form
We knew some three/four ribbed A. myriostigma and var. nudum was
found in Jaumave Tamaulipas Mexico.
page 25-26
Over six ribs type.
This form was made out by cross between multi-ribbed A. myriostigma
and other same type.
page 27
Spiral rib type.
page 28
left: FUKURIYO means "It has sub-ribs".
right:FUKURIYU means "It has rise-up-ribs".
page 29
cv. HANAKAGO
Hanakago means a common name for Azutekium ritteri.
This form is still rare type in Japanese cactophile.
page 30
cv. COSTA
page 31
same as page 25-26, but nudum.
page 32-35
'Kitsukow' mean tortoiseshell pattern.
page 36
having spin type
page 37
Ball type.
This type seems look like BALL.
page 38-39
cv. RED [???]
[We call this type 'KOH-YO'. KOH-YO means red/yellow leaves in
autumn]
This form appears early stage of seedling but vanish at large(6-7cm)
size. In winter, KOH-YO is most beautiful but pale in summer.
page 40-46
miscellaneous
page 47-49
cv. ONZUKA
Mr. T. Sato sold this small grafted plant Yen30,000/stock in 1979.
page 50-51
miscellaneous
page 52-56
varieg.
page 57-59
cristata
page 60-62
monstrosa (miscellaneous)
page 63
Red flower type
page 64
HAKUUN
Mr. Sato insists that this form was caused by virus.
[I don't think so!]

<<Vol. 3 Capricorn family>>

My comments must write in []
Enclose 'w' with a circle means imported plants
page 1 preface by T. Sato
page 2-4
The roots of A. capricorne
page 5 right: stout spine
left : no white dots along the rib-top
down : [in the nursery]
page 6 various of A. capricorne
page 7-8
A. capricorne var. major
This species are larger than A. capricorne, also stout spine.
I expect this species will be a forma but not a variety.
First introduction was appearing on Japanese journal in May 1942.
It is too difficult to discriminate A. capricorne and this species.
page9-10
A. cap. var. minus
spine is round and shin, 10-13 per areole. They has dense white
dots
to thin, is full of variety. Body is smaller than original, but
flower is bigger. Spine develops around own body. I hear of yellow
spine type.
page 11
A. niveum
Circular spine and stout black or yellow color.
It is in confusion, A. niveum, A. capricorne, A. cap. var. minor
and A. cap. var. major. New seeds from Queretaro Mexico come to
Japan in recently, must discriminate from in the past.
right: wild plants in Queretaro(spell?) Mexico.
left : -do-
down : -do-
page 12 Upper right: at Belgium
Upper left : yellow spine
Middle right: at Kohres nursery
Middle left : at Kohres nursery
Lower : selection from former in Japan
page 13-14
A. capricorne cv. 'snowfrec' -like; -fashion; pseudo-
[These are mere dense white dots type]
page 15
A. crassispinum
Rib is same as A. capricorne, but lack white dots and stout spines
Many field-collected plants imported to Japan until 1940, however
no plants imported since then. We once imported some plants at
ten
years ago. Japanese common name named by Mr. Yoshio Okumura in
1932.

<<Vol 4 Ornatum & Coahuilense
family>>

page 1-39 8-)
page 40 MIRACLE or MIRAKURU
UPPER : MIRAKURU
LOWER RIGHT: MIRAKURU
LOWER LEFT : bogus one
To avoid get a bogus MIRAKURU KABUTO, I will publish photo of
genuine MIRAKURU KABUTO. It appears low probability in all seedlings
from MIRAKURU KABUTO. And It is difficult to distinguish from
good one
or not during juvenile plants. This feature is differ from SUPER
KABUTO.
Please compare areole and white dot of genuine from bogus.